More Info →Otaki Maori Land Court Minutebook - 13 January 1880.

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13th January 1880

Tuahiwi continued from 12 January 1880

Nere Puratahi – sworn

Te Matia and Paranihia worked on it. They cultivated from the river to the bush (to their bush). Te Matenga reserved the Tarara’s in his portion of the bush. Wi Aperahama, Mahauariki, Hanara, Rangitukia and Waharahi a slave of Mahauariki worked on the east boundary. Ngati Upokoiri was the slave’s hapu. I had a title to the land formerly. Matia gave the land to Ngatitu and when we went away we returned it.

By Hoani Taipua

Toropiko was the place where I worked on one side and Mahauariki on the other. Ihakara’s people worked near the river. Paranihia worked near the bush. Kiharoa reserved the Tauhara’s and put up a post showing the reservation. Taikapurua had authority over the bush in former years. I do not know of Hakaraia Te Rangi working on the land.

I do not know the Ngatingarenga boundary has a right on Hanara’s portion. You divided the land. Ngati Turanga has no right to Tuahiwi. I do not know Hanara’s hapu.

By Assessor

Hakaraia worked through his brothers right

Kipa Whatanui

The reason Hakaraia surveyed 9 acres while I surveyed the bush was also on account of the Tawhara’s, so increasing it to 54 acres. The green piece on the plan was surveyed in 1871. My uncle Hakaraia passed it through the court. He died soon after and nothing was done. I have a title to this through Hakaraia.

Ema Ihakara – sworn

Kiharoa was my ancestor. My father was Mahauariki. They worked on the land between the times of Haowhenua and Kuititanga (1839). I worked there with my slave. Kiharoa reserved the Taurara’s. I did not see Matenga’s reserve. Ngati Rarangi and others gathered Taurara’s there. The cultivations were in what is now the river bed. Ngatingarangi worked near Toropiko which has swept away. Kiharoa’s was swept away also Matenga’s. Penetaui cultivated there before he died. Ngati Parewhakaioroa was his hapu. Hakaraia Te Reinga, Waharahi, Hanara Rangiheua and Mahauariki alone worked on the land and felled the bush. They worked there in 1846. Rangiheua left before that and died at Manawatu then Mahauariki died.

My brothers and sisters remained after I left. In 1846, my mother Katarina lived there. Pehetaui worked along side Rarangi. He helped to fell the bush at Tuahiwi.

By Kipa

Hoani was brother of Matenga’s of Whakatere. Only Penetaua had a right. Matenga had no title to it. Ihakara’s (Hapuiti), Kiharoa (Paretiwhiu), Matenga (Parewhakaioroa) and Whakatere’s lands were swept away by the river. I mean their cultivations. I saw no reservation for Taurara’s.

Hoani Taipua

The ancient chiefs of Pare were Matenga, Te Puke Mahauariki, Kiharoa and Aotutahanga too lived at Tuahiwi. I did not hear of Kipa letting this land or I should have stopped his surveyor.

Hema Te Ao

I know nothing of Hakaraia’s survey or should have objected. Hanara’s cultivations extended from the river bank to the bush. He was on the land from the very first.

By Kipa

I knew what belonged to me when the river swept away the cultivations so came inland. Rangiheua and Hanara went inland to work. They were ancestors of mine.

By court

I have a claim on this land for myself and younger sisters.

Hoani Taipua

Hapuiti, Whakatere and two other hapu’s worked there but they went to Manawatu. Pari alone remained on the land. Some of them have grants of Tuahiwi. Kipa has none but belongs to that hapu. Penetaua was Matenga’s younger brother. His child Paramena is alive at Manawatu and has no grant. Hakaraia was a nephew of Matenga’s.

Nere’s evidence, re the Whakatere and Matenga is correct. Ema’s statement of her fathers working on the land is correct. Matenga showed me his piece as being small. All those mentioned by Ema have a right also Matenga’s descendants. I do not want to go on this land. It belongs to all Pari and should not be divided. The part near the bush was not worked but when Tauara’s were ripe then all the hapu’s gathered them.

Marks were put to reserve them for their descendants. Tiaki Hawea gave sheep to Pare for newt. Pita gave me some of those sheep. Others of Pare got sheep, my wife did.

Kipa had sheep there, belonged to Ngati Pare. The sheep were not interfered with. Wi Parahema’s descendants have a right. Matenga’s descendants also and Penetaui’s.

Court adjourned at 4.30 pm.

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